§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he proposes to use in deciding whether to call in the planning application for a proposed marina and housing development in Brixham harbour, currently before Torbay district council; and, in particular, what emphasis he proposes to attach to the balance of local opinion.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI shall be using the criteria set out in the Department's circular 2/81. The Government's general approach is not to interfere with the jurisdiction of the local planning authority unless it is necessary to do so. Each case must be considered on its individual merits.
We will therefore continue to be very selective about calling in cases for our decision, and applications will in general be called in only if planning issues of more than local importance are involved. such cases may include, for example, those which in our opinion could have wide 135W effects beyond their immediate locality, which give rise to substantial regional or national controversy which may conflict with national policy on important matters, and those where the interests of national security or of foreign Governments may be involved.